Match-machine.



' No. 834.620. BATENTED 001. so, 1906.

' w-. nnmrcnmson.

MATCH MACHINE. APILIZCATION IILBD 11113.15. 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

. WITNESSES A TTORNE Y.

Plfllu co.,

' '1"Io.834 620. PATENTED0017-.30,1906.

wfF. HUTGHINSON.

MATCH MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 16. 1905. V

SBHEETS-SHBET z.

. S l 18 6 S WITNESSES: INVEZYTOR.

WO 90M JMW,

ATTORNEY.

THE NORRIS rn'nas co, WASH INOMN u. c.

UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM FULTON HUTOHINSON, ,OF NYACK, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORTO SARNIA MATCHCOMPANY, OF SARNlA,

RATION OF (JAN ADA.

ONTARIO, (JANADA,,A CORPO- MATCH-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Oct. 30,1906.

Application filed February 15, 1905. Serial No. 245,661.

To all whom it may concern:'

.Be it known that 1, WILLIAM FULTON HUToHrNsoN, of Nyack, in the countyof Rockland and State of New York, have invented a new and ImprovedMatch-Machine,

of which the following is a full, clear, and ex-,

. step movement and a cutting mechanism which has a correspondingmovementand which cuts the splints and delivers them into the carrier.

The prime obj ect of my invention is to-provide, in connection with acarrier of the general kind described, a continuous semirotary cuttingmechanism in which a series of knives are arranged to follow one anotherin a generally circular path and to successively sever the ends of awhole series of stock, and, further, to provide means for inserting thesplints, as they are thus continuously severed, in the carrier.

a A further object of my invention is to construct the cutting mechanismso that the knives can move rapidly and smoothly around. their guides,to provide means for steadying the carrying-frames, to provide an easyimechanism for feeding the frames which shall permit the carrier-framesto be easily inserted in the machine without loss of time, and toprovide an improved means for feed ing the stock to the cuttingmechanism.

My invention also comprises certain improved. details, which willbespecifically described, all to the end that a simple, prac tical, andvery rapid working machinecan be produced.

With these ends in view my invention conslsts of ,certa1n features ofconstructlon and combinations of parts, which will be herein-- afterdescribed and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar figures of reference indicatecorresponding .parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a rear end elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 is a broken sideelevation partly in section. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic i the supplementalstock-feed rollers. is a cross-section on .the line 11 11 of Fig. 10,and Fig. 12 is a cross-section on the line 12 of plan of a portion ofthe cutting mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a broken sectional plan of a part of ,the feed mechanism. Fig.5 is a detail vertical section through the cutting mechanism,

showing the arrangement of the devices for I cutting off the splints andfor guiding them to the carrier. Fig. 6 is a broken detail perspectiveview, partly in section, taken fi'om .the rear side of the cuttingmechanism to show the details thereof. Fig. 7 is a broken sectional planof the cutting and splintguiding mechanism. Fig. 8 is a detail and sideelevation of the means for feeding the earrier-frames and operating thestock-feed rollers. auxiliary frame-feeding device, which per-v ;mitsthe carrier-frames to be easily inserted Fig. 9 is a detail perspectiveview of the in the machine. Fig. 10 is a detail plan of Fig. 11

one of the stock-feed rollers.

The machine is provided with a frame 10., which can be of any approveddesign, and on the top andfront end it is provided with .a series ofparallel partitions 11, which :are spaced apart, so as to permit theveneers or stock 12 to be fed easily through .them and yet hold thestock in the right position for cutting. At the end next the cuttingmechanism these partitions 11 are slightly recessed in the sides toprovide room for the springs 13 which at their free ends extend slightlyinto the space between the partitions, as best shown in Fig. 4, andwhich therefore have a tendency to push the stock to one side or againstthe partitions, so as to hold the stock rigidas the knifeshears acrossit. At the rear :end .of the partitions 11 are auxiliary or extensionpartitions 11 which serve to guide the stock as it passes from thesebetween the guide-fingers 1-4, which are-carried by the plate 14*,andthis is made fast to the machine, as the drawings show. Space is leftbetween the fingers 14 :and the rear ends of the guides 11 for thepassage of the knives 1-8, to bepresently referred to. The fingers 14are spaced apart .a distance corresponding to the thickness of a match,and fitting closely against them on the back side are the abutments 15,which are also spaced apart to permit the passage of splints throughthem, and they are preferably beveled slightly on one edge, as shown.These abutments 15 are carried by the plate 15, which slides on theplate 14*, as shown in Fig. 6. It will be noticed that when theabutments 15 are in the position shown in Fig. 7 they serve to guide oneside of the splints 12 which are cut from the stock 12that is, the stockis fed between the fingers 14 and against the abutments 15, after whichthe knife 18 slides across the guides 11 and severs the splints, so thatthe latter are then held-between the fingers 14, the knife 18, and theabutments 15. The plate 15 is then -moved so as to withdraw theabutments 15 from the rear sides of the splints 12 and the latter canthen pass freely rearward with the carrier, as hereinafter described.The abutments and plate 15 are guided by the ribs 16 and 16" and aremoved in a manner to be hereinafter described. The lower ends of theabutments 15 are also guided by the hooks 17, which are fast to theparts 14 and which are spaced to permit the passage of splints, ashereinafter described.

The knives 18 are thin and flexible, and while they may be made in asingle piece they are preferably constructed as shown, having onecutting portion 18" and a series of thin blades 18*, which lie edge toedge, and each knife is long enough to extend across the fingers 14, soas to guide the severed matchsplints, as just described. The knives arecarried by sprocket-chains 19, and the drawing (see Fig. 3) shows fourknives; but there may be a greater or less number. The sprocket-chainsmove over the sprocketwheels 20, which are arranged as in Fig. 3

and turn on vertical studs 21, these being arranged in pairs on oppositesides of the machine, one pair being opposite the fingers 14, so thatthe knives shall be drawn across the stock in the right relation, andthe other pair are near the front end of the machine, and these areadjustable back and forth, so that the chains 19 can be tightened whennecessary. Any suitable means can be employed for this purpose; but Ihave shown the front studs 21 having a screw connection with the bolts22, which are journaled in the machineframe, and the studs extendthrough slots 23 and are j ournaled in plates 24, which steady them'andwhich are slidable back and forth, as shown best in Fig. 2.

One of the rear studs 21 serves as a driving-shaft, and to this end ithas a gear 25 or equivalent driving mechanism (see Fig. 1) connectingwith a gear 26 on a shaft 27, and the latter is driven by asprocket-wheel 28, connecting, by means of a suitable wheel, with thecounter-shaft 29, which extends transversely across the machine insuitable bearings and connects by gears 30 and 31 (shown by dotted linesin Fig. 2) with the drivingshaft 32, which has a suitable pulley 33. Itwill be understood, of course, that the means for driving any of theparts can be of any usual kind.

When the knives 18 are drawn across the stock 12 to cut the splints, asshown above, the splints are then ejected or pushed down by plungers 34,which is a common means of ejecting matchesplints, and these plungersmove down through guideways 14", (see Fig. 6,) which register with thespaces between the fingers 14. The plungers 34 are secured to across-head 35, which is attached. to a yoke 36, moving in suitableguideways in the machine-frame, and the arms 37 of the yoke extenddownward and connect, by means of rollers 38, with the cam-slots 39 inthe cams 40, these slots being produced in the ends of the cams, and oneof the latter has also the face-slot 41, which receives the roller 42 onthe under side of the head 43, (see Fi s. 1 and 7,) and the headconnects with the plate 15, which carries the abutments 15. It will beseen, therefore, that every revolution of the cam will actuate theplungers 34 and also move the abutments 15, and the cam-slots arearranged so that these movements alternate.

In connection with the cutting mechanism any suitable carrier of thegeneral type described can be used; but I prefer to use theholding-frames 44, which have cross-bars 45, these being preferablycircular in cross-section, and the splints 12 are forced downwardbetween the cross-bars and held by them. The frames slide longitudinallythrough the machine on the angle-tracks 46, and to prevent them fromswaying laterally they have, preferably, a longitudinally-central rib46, which slides through a grooved guide 47, arranged below the frame.These frames are fed through in succession one behind the other, andobviously they may be linked, if desired.

The counter-shaft 29, above referred to, connects by gears 48 and 49with the short vertical shaft 50 at one side of the machine, (see Figs.2 and 3,) and this carries the horizontal cam 51, in which is a cam-slot52, which actuates the arm 53 of the shaft 54 in the figures referredto, and this shaft has a second crank-arm 55, which connects with andreciprocates a slide-rod 56, which is arranged in suitable bearingstransversely of the machine and which carries a pawl 57, which engagesthe ratchet-wheel 58 on the shaft 59, which is suitably supported. Itwill be seen that the turning of the cam 51 will tilt the rock-shaft 54and reciprocate the rod 56, and the latter will impart a step-bystepmovement to the ratchet-wheel and its shaft. The shaft 59 carries gears60, which mesh with corresponding gears 61, (see Fig. 8,) and the latterare secured to the shafts 62, which extend along the frame side, as inFig. 8, parallel with the travel of the carriers. The object of havingthe double-gear connection just described between the shaft 62 and theshaft 59 is to afford space for the cutting mechanism. The

the several shafts 66 are also connected by gears It is desirable tofeed the carrier-frames successively into the machine, and after one hasentered into position to receive the splints as they are cut it isnecessary to force the second one quickly into abutment with the first.To provide for this and not interfere .with the driving mechanism, I usea tilting frame 67, which, with its mechanism, forms an auxiliary feedfor the carrier-frames. This frame 67 is hinged at its rear end on oneof the shafts 66, and it carries at its free end a similar shaft, '(seeFig. 9,) both of which shafts have the gears 65 to engage the rods orcross.- bars 45. The set of gears 65 at one end of the frame is coveredby shields 67 At the hinged end of the frame 67 the gears 65 are looseon the shafts 66 and have hubs 68, provided' with ratchet-teeth whichenga e corresponding teeth in the collars 69, w ich are fast on the saidshafts. ratchet-teeth is in such a direction as to permit acarrier-frame to be pushed quickly be neath the frame 67, and theratchet-teeth will slip, so that the said frame can be pushed quickly upagainst the one which has preceded it, after which the feed is as usual.If

to make the movement easier. In order that the shafts 66 at the free endof the frame 67 may turn constantly even though the frame is lifted, atrain of gearing 7 0 (see Fig. 8) is usedto connect the shaft farthestforward with the one next it toward the rear of the machine.

I have shown how the frame-feed is worked from the rod 56. This servesalso to actuate the splint-pushing devices to be described below andwhich prevent the splints from sticking between the fingers 14 as thecarrier-frame advances. On the rod 56 is an arm 71, which connects by alink 72 with a tilting bell-crank lever 73, (see Fig. 3,) and thebell-crank is fulcrumed at its elbow 74 and has its longer arm connectedby a link 75 with the toggle-levers 76, which are fulcrumed at 77 andconnect at their outer ends with the rods 78, and these in turn arepivot-' The slant of the the comb 80 will, by the lever mechanismreferred to in Fig. 3 and described above, be moved at the same time, soas to push the match-splints from between the parts 14 and 17, and thussticking is avoided. It will be understood, ofcourse, that many otherforms of mechanism can be used for moving the comb 80 without departingfrom the principle of the invention.

p The stock-feed is accomplished in the main by the auxiliaryfeed-rollers 82, (see Fig. 8 which bear on the upper and lower :edges ofthe strips 12 of stock, and these rollers are connected by gears 83',the lower of which connects, by means of gears 84 and 85, with abevel-gear 86 on one of the shafts 62. The gear also connects with thelower of two gears 87, which mesh and which are attached to the shaft 88of the supplemental feed-rollers 88. These supplemental feedrollers 88are roughened on the outside, and

there is a pair of feed-rollers for each stri of stock, as shown best inFig. 10. The ro lers are loose on their shafts and each roller is hollowand contains a ratchet-wheel fast on the shaft and having long teeth 89engaged by the balls 90, as shown best in Figs. 11 and .12. The objectof this arrangement is to permit the stock to be quickly fed forwardwhen necessary to prevent skips in the match-carrierthat is, to preventthe carrier from having parts unfilled. It will be seen that when astrip of stock is nearly exhausted and its last end is about to passbetween the rollers 82 another strip can be inserted behindit and pushedrapidly through the rollers 88 which necessary, the frame 67 can belifted slightly y reason of their ratchet connection with the shaftpermit this, and then the rollers,

actuated by their shafts, feed as usual until the stock is gripped bythe main rollers 82.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a whole series ofstock-strips 12 can be fed conveniently into the machine by means of themain and supplemental feedrollers described, that a series of splintswill be cut off by each knife 18 as it passes the protruding ends of thestock, that the movement of the knives is continuous and notintermittent, that the splints are accurately guided to the carrier,that the carrierthat is, the carrier-framesare evenly and nicely fedthrough the machine, that there is ample provision for inserting thecarrier-frames quickly one after the other, and that there is no chancefor the match-splints to stick in the machine, because the plungers 34push them down and the comb 80 81 pushes them in the direction of thestock-feed.

While I claim the details pointed out below, I lay particularstress onthe continuous cutting, and it will be seen that I provide what ispractically a rotary cutter having a continuous movement and having thecuttin stroke straight instead of in a circular .pat vThis hasadvantages over the -ordi- IIS nary reciprocating means of cutting,chiefly because it is much faster and also because it is an easiermovement and because the parts are less likely to get out of order.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent 1. In a match-machine com rising a stockfeed tofeed a series of stoc ostrips having means for sustaining each stripindividually against the action of the knives, and a series of cutterstraveling in a circuitous path and intersecting the stock-feed, saidcutters being spaced apart to permit the whole series of stock-strips tofeed forward into a single space between the cutters.

2. A match-machine comprising a stockfeed arranged to feed a series ofstock-strips in parallel relation, a series of cutters spaced apart toermit the whole series of stockstrips to e fed forward into a singlespace between them, the said cutters traveling in a circuitous pathwhich intersects the stockfeed, and each cutter having a flexibleextension in its line of travel serving to support the splints afterthey are severed from the stock-strips.

3. A match-machine comprising a stockfeed .to feed and maintain stripsof matchstock in parallel relation, a series of cutters traveling in acircuitous path and spaced apart to permit the whole series ofstockstrips to be fed into a sing e space between them, each cutterhaving a flexible extension in its line of travel to serve as a guidefor the severed splints cut from the stock, and means for pushing thesplints endwise from behind a knife extension.

4. In a match-machine, the combination with the stock-feed, of a cutteradapted to move continuously forward in a circuitous path to sever thesplints from the stock, a guide following the cutter and adapted toextend across the stock-feed, and plunger mechanism operating to shovethe splints lengthwise during the traveling engagement of the saidguide.

5. In a match-machine, the combination of means for feedingsimultaneously a plurality of strips of stock having means forsustaining each individually against the action of the knives, aplurality of knives spaced apart sufficiently to allow the whole seriesof strips of stock to be fed forward between them, and means for movingsaid knives continuously forward in a circuitous pathinters'ecting thestock.

6. In a match-machine, the combination of means for feedingsimultaneously a plurality of strips of stock, a plurality of knivesspaced apart sufficiently to allow the whole series of strips of stockto be fed forward between them, each knife having an extension longenough to extend across the several stock-strips, means for moving theknives in a circuitous path intersecting the stock, and means forejecting the splints lengthwise while the guide is traveling acrossthem.

7. In a match-machine, the combination of a plurality of knives spacedapart, means for moving them continuously forward in a circuitous path,and means for projecting a series of stock-strips spaced apart andmaintained individually in parallel relation between the knives whilethe latter are moving.

8. In a match-machine, the combination of a plurality of knives, meansfor moving them continuously forward and uninterruptedly in a circuitouspath, means for projecting a series of stock-strips between the knivesand maintaining each strip individually against the action of the kniveswhile the knives are moving, and plunger mechanism adapted to engage thesevered splints while the knife or an extension thereof is between themand the stock.

9. In a match-machine, the combination with the stock-feed, theguide-fingers, means for cutting off splints between the fingers, thecarrier, means for pushing the splints lengthwise from between thefingers into the carrier, and means for pushing the matches laterallyfrom between the fingers in a direction parallel with the movement ofthe carrier.

10. In a match-machine, the combination with the splint-guide fingers,the carrier below the fingers, and means for ejecting the splintslongitudinally from between the fingers, of a pushing device movablewith the carrier and arranged to push the splints from between thefingers in the direction of the movement of the carrier.

11. In a match-machine, the combination of the splint-guide fingers,means for pushing the splints lengthwise from between the fingers, and acarrier to receive the splints, of a comb movable in the same directionas the carrier and adapted to push the splints in said direction frombetween the fingers.

12. A match-machine, comprising a stockfeed, guide-fingers at the end ofthe feed so as to receive the stock in them, a knife shearing betweenthe fingers and the stock-feed, movable abutments adapted to open andclose the space behind the fingers, means for forcing the splintslongitudinally from between the fingers, a carrier to receive thesplints, and pushing devices to engage and push the splints from betweenthe fingers in a direction parallel with the movement of the carrier.

13. In a match-machine, the combination with the frame-feed arranged instationary bearings and adapted to engage and drive splint-holdingframes through the machine, of an auxiliary feed driven by the saidstationary feed, and comprising frame-engagin g gears separable fromeach other and adapted to swing into engagement with a splint-holding orcarrier frame.

14. In a match-machine, the combination with the stationarysplint-carrying frameframe-engaging gears arranged to move back" andforth in relation to each other and provided with a ratchet connectionwith their shafts whereby the said gears are driven posi-' tively in onedirection, but can slip in the other direction.

15. In a match-machine, the combination with a gear-driven main feed forfeeding splint-carrying frames through the machine, of an auxiliary feedcomprising a swinging frame, a pair of gears journaled on the frame andadapted to engage the splint-carrying frames, the said gears having aratchet connection with their shafts, and means for driving the saidframe-engaging gears from the main feed.

WILLIAM FULTON HUTCHINS 3N. Witnesses:

WARREN B. HUTOHINSON. WILLIS A. BARNES.

